BFEF: Our Foundation

WILLKOMMEN! BIENVENUE! ¡ BIENVENIDOS! BENVENUTI!

We are thrilled to welcome you to our unique dual-immersion community at Benjamin Franklin MagnetElementary. Our generous volunteer community is a huge part of what makes our school such a wonderfulplace to be! In order to better support our children, Franklin has two non-profit organizations that dependentirely on volunteer power! We hope you’ll join in and support us as we continue our work in the year ahead.

Parents created the Benjamin Franklin Elementary Foundation in 2010. Our mission is to support the development ofevery student by identifying needs and raising funds to support evidence-based programs that promote engagement,creativity, educational excellence, environmental citizenship, and language and cultural enrichment. BFEF uses our funds for international interns and local teaching assistants to lower the student-teacher ratio andenhance target language learning. We pay for teacher supplies, Chromebooks, and language support. We supportSTEAM learning by covering the cost of art and music instruction; we help maintain our green spaces and supportenvironmental initiatives. BFEF’s Board meets the first Wednesday of every month. BFEF is entirely volunteer-run. To keep our programs going, we need to raise $160,000 annually through family andcorporate donations and our fundraising events. We are always looking for volunteers to plan our events, support ourenrichment programs, and join our Board. You do not need to speak a target language to be a helper; a "can-do" attitudeand problem solving skills go a long way! To volunteer or bring an idea to us, please contact bfefcommunications@gmail.com or visit franklin.fyi/volunteer.

Be a BFEF supporter!

Follow our volunteers on social media! @friendsoffranklinglendale @franklinmagnetglendale

We need everyone in our community to pitch in – and because we honor and value the diversity in our families – we’re asking everyone to participate however they can. All proceeds stay at Franklin: franklin.fyi/donate Ways to support BFEF

individual donations (Recurring monthly donations in any amount help us keep an accurate budget to sustain and grow our programs responsibly).volunteers to organize our fundraisers and eventsemployer matching giftsin-kind donations from businessescorporate donors and sponsors

The BFEF can only maintain and grow our programs and initiatives with your support;our goal is that all families participate in making a meaningful donation to Franklin.Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum allowed by law: Federal Tax ID 27-1310472.

Franklin’s Parent Teacher Association is a local chapter of the National PTA – the largest and strongest advocate in the state and nation for children and youth. The PTA’s mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. Last year, Franklin PTA sponsored Mindful Music Moments and the anti-bullying school assembly and parent seminar. Our PTA organized a family volunteer day with City Year LA and a student thank-you writing campaign to first responders during Yellow Ribbon Week. Our PTA also brought you the virtual FLAG Forum with Superintendent Dr. Ekchian and our end-of-year dance party celebration. Advocate for your child, your school and your community. Witness improvement. Be a part of the solution. Help make positive change. Become a PTA member! PTA MEMBERSHIP entitles members to vote, hold office, support and advocate for critical issues affecting our children locally, statewide and nationally in order to positively impact the lives of all children and families. To support the PTA's mission and efforts for the upcoming school year, BECOME A MEMBER! Membership fees are $10 - anyone, including kids, grandparents and other relatives can be signed up to be part of our PTA community. The larger our membership number, the stronger our voices can be! Visit franklin.fyi/join-pta to join today!

Back-to-School Night: meet your child's teachers and hear about plans for the year. This evening is for adults only. Open House: Come see your child's schoolwork and mingle with families and teachers. This is a family-friendly event! 6th grade fundraisers: These are usually movie nights or craft fairs that help our 6th graders fundraise for their graduation trip. PTA Reflections Art Contest: A National PTA program for students to showcase their multimedia artistic talents based on an annual theme. This year's theme is "I Matter Because..." PTA Book Fair: Books for sale in all five languages for all grades, run by volunteers over several days. PTA Speaker Series: Hear speakers on current, relevant topics and concerns to support families. Topics include parent education on safety, health, wellness and social emotional learning. PTA Red and Yellow Ribbon Weeks: These themed weeks offer students and families opportunities to be involved in the community by making healthy and safe choices and creating a culture of kindness. BFEF Fundraiser: We ask families and friends to support our school through a dance-a-thon or similar fun activity during the school day. Students earn prizes (homework pass, cocoa with the principal, class pizza party) for their fundraising efforts. BFEF Film Festival: A parent-run even held off-campus in late spring. Students submit short films in any language and host a screening. BFEF Green Team: This group meets monthly to maintain the green spaces on campus. They also support our sustainability initiatives. Set your own schedule or join our group weeding and watering sessions. We have a work weekend in May to lay down mulch before school ends. BFEF STEAM Fair: An arts, crafts, robotics, science and DIY free-for-all on campus. This is a mashup of a Maker Faire and a Science Fair. If you’ve got a creative kid, this is for you! BFEF World Fest (spring): A fun fair and fundraiser held on campus with carnival games, music, and international food.

SeptemberBFEF Funds Drive Kick-offPTA Book FairPTA Reflections Art Contest Kick-off PTA family art seminarFranklin Back-to-School Night OctoberPTA Red Ribbon Week (healthy choices)PTA Art Expo NovemberPTA Holiday Food DrivePTA Student Assembly PTA Fall Meeting (Speaker Series)

JanuaryPTA Yellow Ribbon Week (Acts of Kindness)PTA Community Service Day FebruaryPTA Spread the Love Campaign PTA Winter Meeting (Speaker Series)

AprilBFEF STEAM FairFranklin Open HousePTA Earth Day MayBFEF Franklin Film FestivalPTA/BFEF Teacher/Staff Appreciation WeekPTA Spring Meeting (Speaker Series)BFEF Green Team work weekend

For a full calendar and more information about PTA and BFEF, please visit www.gusd.net/franklinGUIDE TO EVENTS

June PTA Dance Party

All events subject to change. Check the weekly email for updates. To volunteer, visit franklin.fyi/volunteer.

MarchBFEF spring fundraiser